Mildred Poelstra Armentrout, 95 formerly of Springfield and Armour

Funeral services will be 1:30 Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at the United Church of Christ in Springfield, with burial in the Springfield Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church an hour prior to the services. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home of Springfield is in charge of the arrangements.

Mildred Ethel Poelstra Armentrout, youngest child of Chester Warren and Grace (Starks) Tolles, was born September 29, 1917 at Laurel, NE. She died Thursday, June 20, 2013 at Dow Rummell Village in Sioux Falls, SD. Mildred attained the age of 96 years, eight months and 23 days.

Mildred was a graduate of East High School in Sioux City, IA. She attended Morningside College for two years and the University of Nebraska Teachers College for two years. Mildred graduated in 1940 with a degree in business education.

Mildred began her teaching career in Springfield, SD, where she taught four business classes at St. Mary's Episcopal School for Indian Girls for nine years. Mildred met William Poelstra in Springfield and they were married in 1942. Three children were blessed to their union. Bill died unexpectedly in 1959 and Mildred was left to raise and support three children. She went back to teaching at St. Mary's and also ran the Poelstra Insurance Agency in Springfield. Mildred managed to put her children through college debt free.

In 1967, Mildred married Lawrence Jacob Armentrout. He had come to Springfield to run the Springfield Telephone Company and had the privilege with his co-workers of having coffee at Mildred's home. After their marriage, Mildred and Jake moved to Armour, SD, where they ran the Armour Telephone Company. Jake died in 1991 and Millie continued to live in Armour until approximately 2003, when she moved into the Dow Rumell Village in Sioux Falls.

Mildred was a member of the Springfield and Armour UCC Churches, the American Legion Auxiliary, DAR, OES, the Mayflower Descendants, Dakota Club and Bridge Club. She served as a Sunday School teacher when her children were young.

Mildred was a gracious, dignified lady with a dry wit. She was a devout Cleveland Indian and Cornhusker fan. After her husband's death, her children remember how she learned to drive and then taking the family on many trips - a little further away every time. Even in her later years, Mildred encouraged her children to be kind to each other and continue the family love that was there from the beginning.

Thankful for having shared her life are her children: Carol Diane Kanaly of Yankton; Priscilla Jean Broms and husband Jim of New Hope, MN; and Robert William Poelstra of Denver, CO; four grandchildren: Steven Kanaly, Jennifer, John and Sarah Broms; eight great grandchildren; and several nieces and nepehews.

Mildred was preceded in death by her husbands; a grandson David Kanaly; a brother Howard Tolles; and sister Wilma (Tolles) Strong.